The Colony of Wellfleet

Designed and built in 1948 by architects Nathaniel Saltonstall and Oliver P. Morton on a beautiful parcel of land overlooking Wellfleet harbor and bay, the Mayo Hill Colony Club first served as a private club and art gallery for artists and their patrons. Each Bauhaus-style cottage was furnished with pieces designed by the leading modernists of the day. Loris and Eleanor Stefani acquired the cottages in 1963. From the start, they began adding their own creative touches – and much of his artwork – to this unique place, now renamed The Colony. Together, they created one of the truly special summer retreats in the Northeast. The Colony soon became a haven for a special breed of people. It has been a haven for those appreciating serenity, including writers Lionel and Diana Trilling, Bernard and Ann Malamud, William Shirer, professors, poets, psychiatrists, such as Margaret Mahler, a pioneer in autism research, and many others who continue to find The Colony of Wellfleet as inviting and magical as ever.

Welcome!

Wellfleet

Wellfleet is the perfect place for a summer getaway. Its small-town charm belies a wide variety of activities for the whole family. Miles of spectacular beaches line the Atlantic Ocean, Cape Cod Bay, and Wellfleet Harbor, and glacier-formed ponds surrounded by pine trees. Long known as a center for art and architecture, Wellfleet’s art galleries draw visitors from all over the world. The Cape Cod National Seashore has preserved a significant portion of the land in Wellfleet, opening walking and bike trails, beaches, and historical landmarks, such as the Marconi Center, to the public. Similarly, the Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary organizes activities and offers walking trails along tidal marshes where birds and animals can be observed in their natural habitat. The town library boasts a great selection of books, movies, seminars, readings by authors, and activities for children of all ages, while the Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater (www.what.org) and the Harbor Stage (www.harborstage.org) offer a full schedule of performances for children and adults.

Wellfleet’s historical ties to fishing remain a strong part of its character today. Sport fishing is available on charter boats, and the local fishing fleet supplies fresh fish and shellfish, including world-famous Wellfleet oysters, to the many wonderful restaurants in town and beyond.

The Colony of Wellfleet is located on Chequessett Neck Road, one of the most scenic roads in the area, leading to Sunset Point and Duck Harbor. It is adjacent to the Chequessett Yacht and Country Club and up the hill from Powers Landing, a town beach on Wellfleet Harbor. Additional information is available in the annual Wellfleet guide or at www.wellfleetchamber.com orwww.wellfleetma.org.

Hatch's Fish Market

WELLFLEET BAY WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Want to learn more about Wellfleet?

Events

Where: Wellfleet, Wellfleet MA When: Wednesday, May 30, 2018 – Tuesday, June 5, 2018 About Wellfleet Harborfest & Restaurant Week…Come experience what Wellfleet has to offer. Presented by the Wellfleet Chamber, Restaurant Week is a week-long event that gives both locals and visitors alike an opportunity to delight in all that Wellfleet has to offer before the kicking off the busy…

July 19, 2018 Wild, Wild Wellfleet! is a quintessential Cape Cod summer evening under the stars, featuring some of the best local food of the Outer Cape; fine wines and local beer; music and dancing with the Oh Boys; and a fun and lively auction offering unique Cape Cod experiences on land and on the water.…

October 13 & 14, 2018 The Wellfleet OysterFest is an annual celebration of the town’s famous oysters, clams and its deep-rooted shellfishing traditions. Wellfleet’s town center comes alive for this two-day family festival that brings together locals and visitors for a weekend full of food, art, music, fun and games. Sorry, no pets or outside alcohol…

Coastal Living.com says

“The coolest stay in town is at The Colony of Wellfleet”

Press

The 10 Bauhaus-style cottages, which have housed devoted guests for decades, were first known as the Mayo Hill Colony Club.

NY Times

The room was artfully furnished with clean-lined modern pieces, including an Eames table and two chairs and a clever wall-mounted desk. Original artwork hung on the walls and freshly cut flowers filled vases.

Boston.com

The Colony of Wellfleet was originally an art gallery and hostelry for collectors. Ten Modernist cottages with slightly worn Midcentury furnishings are tended by owner Eleanor Stefani, who feels like your eccentric great-aunt.